Interview by SAMO SAJN

AVAION is a German producer, songwriter, and singer who has made a significant impact on the melodic house and future bass scene since his breakout as an artist in 2018. His debut album “Selfreflection” is set to release on 19th April 2024 exclusively via Sony Music, available across all major streaming platforms and on vinyl. He will celebrate the album release with his debut headline tour ‘For The Vibes,’ kicking off in May 2024 and covering some of Europe’s top cities including Paris, Berlin, Milan, and Amsterdam, where he will perform on 29th May at Malkweg.

AVAION, walk us through the beginning of your career and where does your love for music come from?

I first realized as a child that my connection to music was different from that of other children around me. My parents had a CD player with an old German techno collection, and I remember immersing myself in those eclectic sounds in the bedroom, almost having a meditative break from daily life. It sparked something in me, and I knew this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Like many musicians, I became interested in how to make and understand music. With musicians in the family, perhaps it’s in our genetics.

Your debut album, “Selfreflection,” has been a long-time vision since you got those words tattooed on your arm seven years ago. Can you share the significance of this album title and how the journey of creating it has unfolded over the years?

Reflecting on the journey of creating ‘Selfreflection,’ I delved into the significance of the album title and its personal meaning. The creation was intense, spanning two years of final touches and finishing up ideas. Some of the songs on the album were written up to five years ago, but at the time, I didn’t feel emotionally or artistically prepared to finalize them and create my best work. For every artist, an album is one of the biggest steps in their career, marking the start of something new, reaching a new level. I’ve grown a lot in those years, both personally and artistically. The tracks themselves have been on a journey, evolving alongside me. I can’t wait for people to listen to the album and relate to it in their own unique way. My goal is to create a canvas for listeners to write their own story to my songs, keeping them open for interpretation.

“Pieces” has been a massive success, resonating globally and achieving platinum status in multiple countries. How does this track represent a pivotal moment in your musical journey, and why did you choose it to be part of your debut album?

Of course, ‘Pieces’ was always going to be part of the album because that song has had the most impact in my career so far. It really was the start of everything. ‘Pieces’ got my name out there across the world, and people became interested in my style and discovered the rest of my music from that song. I also want the album to showcase how I’ve developed this sound and taken it even further, so for that reason, I’m glad that ‘Pieces’ is on the track list.

Collaborations play a role in this album, with tracks like “Other Side” with BUNT. and “Where did you go” with MAGNUS. How do these collaborations enhance the narrative of “Selfreflection,” and what unique elements do each of these artists bring to the table?

I’m really happy to have collaborations on my album, especially with my close friends. Each artist is someone I’ve come to know through music, which makes working together in the studio even more special. The collaborations allow us to blend our vibes and create something new, which is the essence of creativity. It’s something I hope to explore more in the future.

If you could collaborate with any artist on a song, who would it be and why?

Good question! I would love to experiment with someone like Post Malone because he has a super deep vibe to his voice that I think would complement my synths and chords really nicely. It could be a really interesting fusion of styles!

“Call my name” and “Broken” are mentioned as tracks that delve into vulnerable emotions. How do you approach translating personal experiences into your music, and what do you hope listeners will take away from these songs?

Yeah, as I mentioned before, all my songs are inspired by my own experiences, but I always try to leave room for listeners’ interpretations. The feelings I write about are universal, and it can be reassuring for listeners to know that someone else has experienced those emotions too.

Your debut headline tour, “For The Vibes,” is set to kick off shortly after the album release. What can fans expect from your upcoming shows?

I’m so excited! I’ve created a whole new live show set-up just for the tour! It’s a hybrid set where I’ll sing, loop, mix, and play out the whole album, along with unheard remixes of my songs and music you’ll only hear on this tour. It’s been a big project, but I can’t wait to finally take the show to all of these incredible cities.

As the sole writer, producer, and vocalist on this album, what were some of the biggest challenges you faced during the creative process, and how did you overcome them?

The best part about writing, singing, and producing all your own stuff is that you have full control. You’re 100% sure that it’s your own art and your own emotions going into your creation. But it’s also a bit challenging, of course, because you want everything to be perfect. Sometimes I’m super happy with the production, and not with the vocals. And sometimes, I’m super happy with the vocals, but not with the production. It can be really challenging to get everything just right as we’re often our own harshest critic. However, being the creator behind all of my own music, from the production to the lyrics, to the tiny details, is something that I’m really proud of.

With the album set for release on vinyl as well, what significance does physical media like vinyl hold for you as an artist in the digital age?

It’s so special to me that the album is out on vinyl. It’s amazing to have something to hold in your hands and show the work that you’ve done. When you release a single and it’s on streaming platforms, you can’t physically touch it, you can mentally touch it, and it vibrates your whole body and emotions, and everything, but holding a tangible album feels completely different. I’m really proud of it. Also, I like the idea of people buying the album then listening to it too because you don’t skip tracks on vinyl, you don’t listen in a rush, you take your time and hear the full story of the album just how the artist intended.

Looking ahead beyond the album release and tour, what ambitions or goals do you have for the future and do you have any exciting projects coming up?

This year is going to be super exciting! My debut album, then my first solo tour, then in summer, I’m touring the festivals. My main goal is to get as many people as possible to feel my music and ultimately, what I hope to do, is create music that makes them feel the same way about music that I do and share that feeling that I crave so much. As for the future, we have a lot of new projects on the go. There’s new merchandise coming, planning for the next tour, planning for next albums and bigger and better as always. I’m forever grateful and happy that this is what I get to do with my life.

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